Most website projects that run late do so for one reason: content. Design and development move quickly once text and images exist. Use this checklist to get ahead.
Branding
- Logo in high resolution, ideally as an SVG or vector file
- Brand colours and fonts, if defined
- Any brand guidelines or examples of your marketing
Copy for each page
- A clear one-sentence description of what you do
- A paragraph or two for each service: who it is for, what is included, what happens next
- Your story for the about page
- Answers to your ten most common customer questions
- Clear calls to action: book, call, request a quote
Photos and video
- Team headshots with consistent lighting and background
- Photos of your premises, your work and your team in action
- Permission to use any photos of clients or customers
- Video, if you have it, with captions for any speech
Real photos build far more trust than stock images. If you need a photographer, book them early.
Proof
- Genuine reviews and testimonials, with permission to publish
- Case studies or examples of work
- Certifications, memberships and awards you actually hold
Practical details
- Contact details, hours and service areas
- Booking system or third-party tools you use
- Access to your domain registrar and current website
Legal
- Privacy policy and terms, reviewed by a professional
- Any industry-specific disclaimers
Accessibility
Write descriptive alt text for meaningful images, use clear link text and keep sentences plain. Our guide to writing alt text helps.
Not a writer? We can help structure and write SEO-friendly copy as part of your WordPress build.
Need a hand?
TheWebsiteMakers.ca is a Toronto-based team with 19+ years of experience building websites for businesses across Canada and the US. We design accessible websites, host them on servers we manage ourselves, and look after them every month. Get a free, no-obligation quote.